Signs Are Explained Away

By 4, the people started to forget the signs and wonders they had heard from heaven, and they were less and less impressed by new signs. They became more stubborn and blind to the truth, no longer believing what they had seen and heard. The people made up excuses to account for the great wonders they had witnessed, saying that they were made up by men and by the devil’s power to deceive them. This is how Satan got possession of the people’s hearts once again, leading them away to believe that Christ was a product of foolish and vain imaginations.

As the people became more and more wicked, they did not believe that any more signs and wonders would be given. Satan continued to lead away the people and tempted them to do more wicked things. This continued through the year 9. And now a hundred years had passed since the days of Mosiah, king of the Nephites. Six hundred and nine years had passed since Lehi had left Jerusalem, and nine years had passed since the sign of Christ’s birth had been given. (The Nephites had begun to count their years from the time that Christ was born). Now Nephi was in charge of all the plates and sacred things. His father, Nephi, did not return to Zarahemla, and could not be found anywhere in the land.

In spite of all the preaching and prophesying among them, the people remained wicked throughout the years 10 and 11. By the year 13, wars broke out everywhere because there were so many Gadianton robbers killing people and destroying their cities.

All the Lamanite converts united with the Nephites, and they were compelled to take up arms to defend their women and children, and their rights to live and worship freely.

Before 13 was over, the Nephites’ situation became desperate, for they were threatened with utter destruction.

The Lamanite converts who had united with the Nephites were considered to be Nephites. Their curse was taken from them, and their skin became lighter, like the Nephites’. Their children also became very fair, and were also called Nephites. By 14, the fighting was terrible, but the Nephites managed to drive the robbers back into their hiding places in the mountains.

In 15, the Gadiantons again came against the Nephites. The Nephites in general had become wicked, and had so many arguments and dissensions, that they lost their battles, and the robbers gained more power over them. By the end of 15, the Nephites were suffering greatly, and the sword of destruction hung over them because of their sinful ways.